[DigitalToday reporter Jin-ho Lee] KT said on Monday it posted 2025 consolidated revenue of 28.2442 trillion won and operating profit of 2.4691 trillion won. Revenue rose 6.9 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit climbed 205 percent, helped by gains including real estate sales tied to development of its Gangbuk headquarters.

On a standalone basis, revenue was 19.3240 trillion won and operating profit was 1.3050 trillion won. That was up 4 percent and 276.6 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. In the fourth quarter, one-off costs including SIM purchases incurred during the process of responding to an intrusion incident partially affected profitability.

B2C and B2B businesses grow, AX product lineup expands

In wireless, service revenue increased 3.3 percent from the previous year as the company expanded mid- to low-priced plans and grew its subscriber base. As of end-2025, 5G subscribers accounted for 81.8 percent of total handset subscribers. Wireline business revenue rose 0.8 percent from a year earlier on growth in ultrafast internet and media businesses. Corporate service revenue increased 1.3 percent from a year earlier as CT business grew steadily and AI and IT demand expanded, despite the impact of streamlining low-profit businesses.

KT strengthened its capabilities to respond to the AX market by launching 'Mi-deum K', developed with its own technology, the Korea-specialised AI language model 'SOTA K' based on a partnership with Microsoft, and the security-focused cloud service 'SPC (Secure Public Cloud)'. It is also working with Palantir to expand data and AI business opportunities centred on the financial sector.

Core portfolio growth including cloud, data centres and real estate

KT Cloud increased revenue 27.4 percent from a year earlier, driven by growth in its data centre and AI and cloud businesses. It is expanding AI and cloud orders mainly in the public sector, and in November last year it opened the Gasan AI data centre, the first in South Korea to apply a liquid cooling system.

KT Estate increased revenue and operating profit from a year earlier as it expanded mixed-use development and leasing businesses, improved results in its hotel segment and progressed with a development project at its Daejeon training institute. The completion of a mixed-use development project on the site of the Gangbuk headquarters contributed to improved results.

Content subsidiaries maintained revenue at the year-earlier level centred on KT Studio Genie, KT Nasmedia and KT Millie's Library, despite a slowdown in the advertising market and the impact of selling some subsidiaries. KT Studio Genie showcased key content including 'New Recruit 3' and 'Kind Woman Busemi', and KT Millie's Library saw revenue growth helped by an increase in subscribers.

K-bank secured 2.79 million new customers in 2025, bringing its total to 15.53 million. As of end-December last year, deposits stood at 28.4 trillion won, unchanged from a year earlier. Loans totalled 18.4 trillion won, up 13.0 percent from a year earlier. K-bank is preparing for a listing after passing a preliminary listing review in January.

Response to unauthorised small-payment incident, company-wide information security system strengthened

KT said it carried out a full review of its information security system in the wake of an unauthorised small-payment incident. It is reorganising its security organisation and governance centred on an information security innovation task force under the CEO. It is strengthening its chief information security officer system and integrating and upgrading security functions that had been dispersed.

KT plans to gradually strengthen key capabilities by investing about 1 trillion won in information security over the next 5 years, including expanding its zero-trust security system and upgrading integrated security monitoring. It will also conduct regular and ongoing inspections reflecting external experts and international security standards to minimise blind spots and continue upgrading prevention and response systems across the company.

Fourth-quarter dividend of 600 won, 250 billion won share buyback announced

KT decided to pay a cash dividend of 600 won per share as shareholder returns for the 2025 financial year. It maintained the same level as in the first three quarters despite the impact of the intrusion incident. The total dividend per share for 2025 is 2,400 won, up 20 percent from a year earlier. The annual dividend yield is 4.6 percent as of Dec. 30, 2025. The record date for the year-end dividend is Feb. 25, and the dividend will be paid after approval at the regular shareholders meeting in March.

As part of a plan to boost corporate value, KT will pursue share buybacks and cancellations totalling 1 trillion won from 2025 to 2028. It will also carry out share buybacks and cancellations worth 250 billion won by August 2026. With KT's foreign ownership ratio having reached the legal limit of 49 percent, an immediate cancellation is limited, but the 250 billion won buyback is conducted on the premise of cancellation.

For 2025, total shareholder returns combining KT's total dividend payout and the share buyback amount is 831 billion won, and the shareholder return ratio is around 78 percent.

KT said separate taxation of dividend income will apply to dividends paid from Jan. 1 this year, as it meets the requirements for a high-dividend company as of 2025. Separate taxation of dividend income is a system that taxes dividend income separately without combining it with other financial income such as interest income. KT investors can expect an effect of improved after-tax dividend returns.

KT Chief Financial Officer Min Jang (장민) said, "I apologise for causing concern to customers, shareholders and investors due to the 2025 intrusion incident," and added, "Based on stable fundamentals, we implemented the shareholder return policy and value-up plan without disruption."

He added, "Based on our core telecommunications business and AX growth engines, we will continue growth and corporate value enhancement in 2026 as well."